Method for briefing a schedule in a mobile communication terminal

ABSTRACT

There is provided a schedule briefing method of a mobile communication terminal having a user schedule management function. The steps of this method include a step for initiating a schedule briefing, a step for determining whether a schedule exists for a predetermined period of time, a step for audibly outputting content of the schedule, and a step for terminating the briefing. The schedule is outputted in a vocal format to allow a hands-free review of a user&#39;s schedule.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/898,073, filed on Jul. 22, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,805,331, whichclaims the benefit of earlier filing date and right of priority toKorean Patent Application No. 10-2003-0051524, filed on Jul. 25, 2003,the contents of which are all hereby incorporated by reference herein intheir entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a mobile communication terminal and,more particularly, to a schedule management function of a mobilecommunication terminal.

2. Description of the Background Art

In general, mobile communication terminals, such as cellular telephones,personal data assistants (PDA's) and the like, include a supplementaryfunction, among others, of managing a user's schedule. Through aschedule management function, important schedules or events, such asanniversaries, appointments, and agendas, can be stored in the mobilecommunication terminal. Additionally, the function also may serve toinform the user of a scheduled event at a predetermined time or ondemand. Often, such schedule management functions are carried out by an“organizer” or “scheduler” installed in the mobile communicationterminal.

With reference to FIG. 1, a method for managing a schedule in a mobilecommunication terminal, in accordance with the related art, will bedescribed as follows.

When a new schedule is added or a content of a previously storedschedule is intended to be changed, the user switches a screen of themobile terminal to a menu mode by manipulating the mobile communicationterminal, such as by pressing a menu function key. Thereafter, the useraccesses an organizer menu item by further manipulation of the terminal,such as by pressing a cursor shift button (▴, ▾) or a menu selectbutton, which in turn initiates and drives the scheduler.

For example, as the scheduler is driven, a calendar as shown in FIG. 1appears. The user may add a new schedule, or correct or delete aprevious schedule by moving a date select cursor to a desired date onthe calendar. In adding the new schedule (e.g., an appointment), theuser can select an “addition” item of the menu and input an appointmenttime and correspondingly detailed content. After the content of theschedule is completely inputted, the user can press, for example, an“end” button to stop the operation of the scheduler and revert thescreen and mode of the mobile communication terminal to a basic setmode.

Thereafter, when the appointment date and time arrive, the organizer orscheduler alerts the user via initiating an alarm (e.g., sound an alarm,creating a vibration, or blinking a light) and outputs the content ofthe appointment on the screen. When the user checks the schedule, theuser may then optionally remove the content of the schedule from thescreen.

The above-described schedule managing function is disadvantageous inthat since the schedule content is outputted as a text, the only mode ofreceiving or confirming a schedule is visual. Additionally, if theuser's hands are occupied, such as when driving a car or eating, use ofthe schedule management function of his mobile communication terminal toretrieve a schedule is not very convenient or practical.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a schedulebriefing method of a mobile communication terminal capable of audiblyoutputting a schedule.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth inthe description which follows, and in part will be apparent from thedescription, or may be learned by practice of the invention. Theobjectives and other advantages of the invention will be realized andattained by the structure particularly pointed out in the writtendescription and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.

To achieve at least the above objects in whole or in parts, there isprovided a schedule briefing method of a mobile communication terminalhaving a user schedule management function, the method comprising thesteps of: initiating a schedule briefing; determining whether a scheduleexists for a predetermined period of time; audibly outputting content ofthe schedule; and terminating the briefing.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the schedule briefingis initiated via manipulation of a smart key disposed on the terminal.Furthermore, the content of the schedule is vocally outputted by a textto speech (TTS) function, wherein the content of the schedule may bevocally outputted in the form of a voice selected from a groupconsisting of a male, a female, mechanical, and one or more celebrities.Also, the user may select a tone of the voice.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the briefing maybe terminated if no schedule exists for the predetermined period of timeand the step of terminating the briefing is audibly announced. Also, themethod may further comprise the step of audibly announcing a number ofevents scheduled for the predetermined period of time.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the method mayfurther comprise the step of audibly outputting supplementaryinformation selected by the user. The supplementary information may beprovided by a communication service provider. Finally, the supplementaryinformation may be audibly outputted in a mechanical voice.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and areintended to further describe the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and,together with the description, serve to explain the principles of theinvention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an exemplary view illustrating a method for managing aschedule in a mobile communication terminal, in accordance with therelated art.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary view illustrating a voice selection menu inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an exemplary view illustrating a supplementary informationservice menu in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates a flow chart of a schedule briefing method inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Features, elements, and aspects of the invention that are referenced bythe same numerals in different figures represent the same, equivalent,or similar features, elements, or aspects in accordance with one or moreembodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A schedule briefing method of a mobile communication terminal, inaccordance to an embodiment of the present invention, refers to a methodfor audibly outputting a user's schedule, preferably in voice.Furthermore, the method is preferably initiated by the user manipulatingthe terminal in a single action, such as depressing one key or engagingone device on the terminal. For example, a “smart key,” which may be oneof plurality of terminal manipulation devices disposed on the mobilecommunication terminal, may be specially programmed for initiating andoperating the schedule briefing method.

When the user's manipulation of a programmed smart key is sensed, ascheduler, which may comprise a plurality of functions including aschedule management function, installed in the mobile communicationterminal outputs a user's schedule for a predetermined period. Forexample, the user may desire to be informed of all events schedule foran entire day or for two hours.

The mobile communication terminal of the present invention alsocomprises a TTS (Text to Speech) function, which converts text data toaudible speech data.

FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate exemplary views of menus regarding the schedulebriefing method in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention. Specifically, FIG. 2 illustrates a voice select menu and FIG.3 illustrates a supplementary information service menu.

With reference to FIG. 2, the mobile communication terminal is providedwith various audible forms of communication, such as voices, wherein theuser may select one or more voices to announce a schedule or aparticular event. Preferably, the user can select a desired voice, suchas a male or female voice or the voice of a celebrity, for example.Also, the user may preferably select from the voice select menu of FIG.2 a voice tone, such as a low tone, a high tone, a deep tone, a softtone, and the like. Alternatively, the user may select a default voicegenerated by the TTS, which should preferably be capable to annunciateall inputted text.

With reference to FIG. 3, the user of the mobile communication terminalmay select a service from a supplementary service select menu installedin the terminal. The selected information service may be provided alongwith or in the absence of any scheduled events to be announced duringthe schedule briefing. The supplementary information service maycomprise a weather forecast information service, a stock or marketinformation service, a news information service, a traffic informationservice, a humor service or the like. The various supplementaryinformation services are to be provided by a communication serviceprovider, wherein the user selects specific contents of each service.

FIG. 4 illustrates a flow chart of a schedule briefing method inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention, wherein themethod will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4 as follows.

When the user requests a schedule briefing, such as when the userpresses a preprogrammed smart key for a schedule briefing (step S10),the scheduler installed in the terminal searches whether there is aschedule for a corresponding date (step S20). The scheduler may searchstored memory within the terminal or within a server which the terminalaccesses. If there is no schedule, a corresponding voice announcementmessage (e.g., “no schedule, briefing is terminated”) is outputted (stepS60) and the briefing function is terminated (step S70). The voiceannouncement can be outputted through an earpiece or through aspeakerphone installed in the terminal.

If, however, there is a stored schedule, the scheduler outputs a voicemessage informing of the number of events or schedules (e.g., “todaythere are five events”) (step S40) and outputs a voice message for acontent of each event of the schedule (step S50). Alternatively, theuser may have two separate schedules to be announced, such as one forwork (e.g., meetings, conference calls, etc.) and another for personalevents (e.g., home service appointment, birthday, etc.).

The voice message for the content of the schedule may be divided into aportion where the same content is repeated (e.g., something is due atsome time) and a portion where a content is changed whenever a briefingis made. The repeated portion is audibly outputted via speech while thenon-repeated portion is handled by a mechanical voice or sound generatedby the TTS function.

In the step (S50), if the voice message of the stored schedule iscompletely outputted, the scheduler outputs a voice message (e.g., “nofurther events or schedules” and “briefing is terminated”), whichindicates that the briefing has been completed (step S60) and terminatesthe schedule briefing process (step S70).

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and variations can be made in the present inventionwithout departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore,the foregoing description of these embodiments of the present inventionhas been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. Itis not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to theprecise form disclosed. Thus, it is intended that the present inventioncover the modifications and variations of this invention provided theycome within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for audibly providing a schedulebriefing at a mobile terminal, the method comprising: initiating theschedule briefing in response to a single user input received at themobile terminal; providing, during the schedule briefing, first audiowhen at least one event that has a specific scheduled time that is laterthan a current time is present within a specific period, wherein thefirst audio comprises a voice message corresponding to one of aplurality of scheduled events that are each scheduled at a differenttime within the specific period, wherein the specific period is relativeto the current time at which the single input is received, wherein thefirst audio is provided via a text to speech (TTS) function, and whereina number of the plurality of scheduled events is variable based on thecurrent time; audibly announcing termination of the schedule briefingwhen there are no more events scheduled within the specific period afterthe first audio is provided; terminating the schedule briefing afteraudibly announcing that the schedule briefing is being terminated; andproviding, during the schedule briefing, second audio when no scheduledevent is present within the specific period, wherein the second audiocomprises a voice announcement message indicating that no event isscheduled, the schedule briefing terminated after the second audio isprovided.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the specific period is anentire day on which the single user input is received.
 3. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the first audio and the second audio are vocallyoutput.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein at least the first audio orthe second audio is vocally output in the form of a voice selected fromthe group consisting of a male voice, a female voice, a mechanicalvoice, and a voice of one or more celebrities.
 5. The method of claim 1,further comprising: providing third audio comprising supplementaryinformation that relates to the current time after announcing the firstaudio, wherein the supplementary information is provided via the thirdaudio without requiring an additional user input further to the singleuser input.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the second audio isprovided with the third audio when no event is scheduled for thespecific period.
 7. The method of claim 5, wherein the supplementaryinformation is provided by a communication service provider.
 8. Themethod of claim 7, wherein the plurality of scheduled events are storedin the mobile terminal.
 9. The method of claim 7, wherein thesupplementary information comprises at least weather forecastinformation.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the supplementaryinformation further comprises news information.
 11. The method of claim5, wherein the third audio is output in a mechanical voice.
 12. Themethod of claim 5, wherein the supplementary information is pre-selectedby a user from a menu listing a plurality of items, each itemrepresenting different supplementary information, such that the thirdaudio relates to only the pre-selected supplementary information. 13.The method of claim 1, further comprising: audibly outputting a numberof the plurality of scheduled events for the specific period in furtherresponse to the single user input, the number indicating how many eventor events is/are scheduled for the specific period, wherein the numberis audibly output prior to providing the first audio.
 14. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the single user input is received via a key of themobile terminal.
 15. A mobile communication terminal, comprising: adisplay configured to display information; an audio output unitconfigured to output audio; and a controller operatively coupled to thedisplay and the audio output unit, the controller configured to:initiate a schedule briefing in response to a single user input receivedat the mobile terminal; cause the audio output unit to provide firstaudio during the schedule briefing when at least one event that has aspecific scheduled time that is later than a current time is presentwithin a specific period, wherein the first audio comprises a voicemessage corresponding to one of a plurality of scheduled events that areeach scheduled at a different time within the specific period, whereinthe specific period is relative to the current time at which the singleinput is received, wherein the first audio is provided via a text tospeech (TTS) function, and wherein a number of the plurality ofscheduled events is variable based on the current time; cause the audiooutput unit to announce termination of the schedule briefing when thereare no more events scheduled within the specific period after the firstaudio is provided; terminate the schedule briefing after audiblyannouncing that the schedule briefing is being terminated; and cause theaudio output unit to provide second audio during the schedule briefingwhen no scheduled event is present within the specific period, whereinthe second audio comprises a voice announcement message indicating thatno event is scheduled, the schedule briefing terminated after the secondaudio is provided.
 16. The mobile communication terminal of claim 15,wherein the specific period is an entire day on which the single userinput is received.
 17. The mobile communication terminal of claim 15,wherein the first audio and the second audio are vocally output via theaudio output unit.
 18. The mobile communication terminal of claim 17,wherein at least the first audio or the second audio is vocally outputin the form of a voice selected from the group consisting of a malevoice, a female voice, a mechanical voice, and a voice of one or morecelebrities.
 19. The mobile communication terminal of claim 15, whereinthe controller is further configured to: cause the audio output unit toprovide third audio comprising supplementary information that relates tothe current time after announcing the first audio, wherein thesupplementary information is provided via the third audio withoutrequiring an additional user input further to the single user input. 20.The mobile communication terminal of claim 19, wherein the second audiois provided with the third audio when no event is scheduled for thespecific period.
 21. The mobile communication terminal of claim 19,wherein the supplementary information is provided by a communicationservice provider.
 22. The mobile communication terminal of claim 21,wherein the plurality of scheduled events are stored in the mobilecommunication terminal.
 23. The mobile communication terminal of claim21, wherein the supplementary information comprises at least weatherforecast information.
 24. The mobile communication terminal of claim 23,wherein the supplementary information further comprises newsinformation.
 25. The mobile communication terminal of claim 19, whereinthe third audio is output via the audio output unit in a mechanicalvoice.
 26. The mobile communication terminal of claim 19, wherein thesupplementary information is pre-selected by a user from a menudisplayed via the display and listing a plurality of items, each itemrepresenting different supplementary information, such that the thirdaudio relates to only the pre-selected supplementary information. 27.The mobile communication terminal of claim 15, wherein the controller isfurther configured to: cause the audio output unit to output a number ofthe plurality of scheduled events for the specific period in furtherresponse to the single user input, the number indicating how many eventor events is/are scheduled for the specific period, wherein the numberis audibly output prior to providing the first audio.